A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025

A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025 was launched on Thursday 28th March in the Mansion House, Dublin by the Minister for Health James Reilly, T.D. 

Healthy Ireland is a new government framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of our country over the coming generation. It defines a clear vision, with four central goals. It sets out a broad framework of actions that will be undertaken by Government Departments, local authorities, statutory agencies, community and voluntary groups, businesses, families and individuals to improve health and wellbeing and reduce the risks posed to future generations.   

Healthy Ireland is the result of an extensive consultation process and we would like to thank all of you who contributed to its development.  The response was hugely encouraging and demonstrated significant enthusiasm and support for this initiative. A common theme was that  while progress has been made in some areas, the approach to date has only been partially successful and there was a consensus that we have not yet managed to engage all sectors of our society in the task of building a healthier Ireland.  Healthy Ireland provides the mechanism for a broader, more inclusive approach to governance for health, moving beyond the health sector, across national and local structures, involving all sectors of society. 

The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy, chaired by An Taoiseach, will oversee delivery of Healthy Ireland.  The Health and Wellbeing Programme in the Department of Health has responsibility for co-ordinating and planning the implementation phase.  Achieving Healthy Ireland’s vision will be challenging and complex.  It requires government leadership, broad societal involvement, robust systems for planning, measurement and monitoring, evidence-led action and will take time and resilience. 

 The benefits of achieving a healthy Ireland cannot be overstated and underpinning this Framework is the acknowledgment that sharing the benefits of this vision entails sharing the responsibility.   I look forward to your engagement and support in the months and years ahead as we work to make this a reality.

Healthy Ireland is available at http://www.dohc.ie/publications/Healthy_Ireland_Framework.html